Electric heating iron



N. A. NELSON.

ELECTRIC HEATING 'IRON.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1919.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

mN RN *N nw \N n QM NM Q MN UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

nus A. Manson, or 301m, IowmnssIeN-on '10 B'Aco nnncrmc 00., AGOBPORATION or IOWA.

or 301m, IOWA,

ELECTRIC HEATING IRON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed ma 24, 1919. Serial'lo. 299,630.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELS A. NELsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bode, in the county of Humboldt and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Heating Irons,of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to heating irons of the type heated by anelectric arc.

Among the objectsof my invention is the provision of an electric heatingiron embodying general improvements in construction; further, to providea novel form of operating switch, in which the adjustment of the movablecarbon and the making or breaking of the electric circuit 'may besimultaneously accomplished by one operation; further,- an arrangementin which the retracting of the adjustable carbon will automatically openthe switch controlling the electric current; further, an automaticclosing of the switch controlling the current upon a forward movement ofthe adjustable carbon; further, the provision in the hollow head of anair opening through the side walls to permit the entry of air toincrease the efficiency of the are; further, to effect improved meansfor U i extending the effective length of the slidable carbon as itbecomes shortened with relation to its supporting stem by use; further,to provide a more simple, economical, and efficacious device of theclass described; and

such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later morefully appear.

My invention further resides in the com-.

' bination, construction, and arrangements of parts illustrated in theaccompanying. draw-.

ing, and while I have shown therein a pre ferred embodiment, I desire-itto be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and changewithout departing from the spirit of my invention. a

In the drawings:

s Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a heating iron embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional. view of Fig. 1, and taken on acentral plane.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 1 and taken on a planepassing through the switch operating button.

Referring to the drawing, 'it will be seen that my improved heating ironcomprises a head 1, provided with the bore 2, in the bot-- tom of whichis seated the fixed carbon 3,

just above which, and opposite the region of formation of the arc to behereinafter referred to, is formed through the wall of the head 1 theaperture 4 to permit the passage of an therethrough to increase theeificiency of the arc. Mounted in the head 1 at the open end of the bore2 is the insulating ring '5, formed with a central opening 6, throughwhich slidably passes the longitudinally adjustable carbon 7, secured atits upper end Patented Aug 8, 1922.

within the hollow adjusting stem 8 by means of the small set screw 9mounted in the ring 10, which in turn is slidably mounted on the Stem 8.Loosening of the set screw 9 will permit the carbon 7 .to be moved withrelation to boththe ring 10 and the stem 8, and movement of the ring 10with relation to the stem 8. This arrangement, as is obvious, willpermit adjustment of the carbon 7 and ring '10 with relation to the stem8, whereby\,as' the length of the carbon is decreased by use, theseparts may be appropriately adjusted to accommodate the same, after whichthe screwing of the setscrew against the carbon will hold the partstogether in fixed relation.

The adjusting stem 8 is'preferably formed of a tube 11 having itsmaterial cut away for a portion of its length at 12 to expose the carbon7 The upper end ofthe tube 11 is filled with the plug 13 for a purposeto be later described. Secured tothe upper end of the head 1 is themetal shank 14, preferably of tubular formation at its ends 15 and 16,the former of which, is suitably fixed in a seat formed in the head 1and the latter of which is fixed in position on the reduced portion 17of' the wooden handle 18. An elongated opening is formed in the tube 14opposite the setscrewv 9, whereby to give free access for adjustment ofthe carbon 7 within the ring 10 and hollow stem 8.

The handle 18 is formed throughout its length with the central opening19 within a slight enlargement, at the -lower end of which is snuglyseated the sleeve 20, formed in one side of which is the elongated slot21, so positioned as to register with the slot i 22 formed in the handle18. The handle 18 is provided in one side with the groove 23 lyingdirectly over andof greater width and length than slot 22 as seen inFigs.

2 and 3. Over the groove 23 to cover the,

lil

all

tioned directly over slot 22. Secured in the bottom of groove 23 back ofthe slot one path of the electric circuit while the wire 28, forming theother path of said circuit is connected with the inner end or sleeve 20.The wires 27 and 28 will be connected at their other ends to anysuitable source or electricity.

Secured into the plug 13 of the adjusting stem 8 is a post 29 ot' alength suilicient to attend through slots 21, 22, and 25, and carryingupon its outer end the button 30, also formed of insulating material. Asnoted in 3, the bottom of the button 30 is reduced in diameter andextends through an aperture in the metal switch plate 31, which isslidably mounted in groove is or arched formation longitudinally wherebythe end 32 will at all times be in sliding contact with plate 26, whileend 33 will contact with ring 16 of shank 14 when button 30 is movedtoward the bottom (left hand end in Fig. 2) of slot 22, but will restupon the wood seat 3% when butten 30 is pushed in the oppositedirection. Since the reduced lower end of insulating button 30 passesthrough the aperture in switch plate 31, it will be apparent that noshort circuit can be formed through post 29, but all of the current iscompelled to pass from wire 27 through plate 26, switch plate 31, andinto shank 14; when button 30 is in' the position shown in Fig. 2.

lt is important to note that post 29, when moved in slot 22, will causesimultaneous movement inthe same direction of both carbon 7 (through themedium of stem 8) and switch plate 31. This means that-by suitablyadjusting carbon 7 with relation to stem 8, that when carbon 7 is movedinto proper position for the formation cit an are between the twocarbons, the switch plate 31 will automatically be moved to bring itsend 33 into contact with rin M, to thereby complete the circuit.

lln the operation of my heating iron, assuming the carbon 7 to beproperly adjusted with relation to stem 8, wires 27 and 28 connected toa suitable source of electricity, and switch 31 to stand open, it willbe seen that movement of button 30 to bring carbon 7 into contact withfixed carbon 3 will automatically close the switch as described aboveand complete the electric circuit through wire 27, plate 26, switch 31,shank 14:, head 1, carbons 3 and 7, stem 8, sleeve 20, and wire 28..From this it will be seen that the current can be passed through carbon7 and upon slight movement backward thereof, after contacting carbon 3,will create an electric are between these carbons the length of whichare can be controlled by movement of the button 30. The

16 of shank are thus set up will create intense heat within the head 1,which within a short time will be brought to a sufiiciently hightemperature to perform soldering or other operations for which the ironmay be intended. The opening a in the head 1 creates more or lessventilation within the bore 2 and increases the eiiiciency of the are.The iron will operate quite successfully, how ever, without aperture land the same may be omitted if desired.

While l have described the handle 18 as being of wood, it is obviousthat the same may be formed of any other suitable material that is anon-conductor of electricity. Also the various other parts may be madefrom a variety of materials'without departing from the spirit of myinvention, the essential requirement being that those parts that are totransmit the electricity be conducting in nature and those partsintended not so to do be of non-conducting material. It is further to beunderstood that, while l have disclosed my invention as being embodiedin a soldering iron, it is not to be strictly limited thereto, since itis capable of application to any class of tool having a head or otherpart that is susceptible of being heated with an electric arc.

Having now described my invention, l claim:

1. ln a device of the class described, a hollow head having meanstherein for the creation oi an electric are, said means comprising alongitudinally adjustable carbon, a handle connected to said head, andmean ually operated means on said handle for simultaneously adjustingsaid carbon and automatically controlling the electric circuit leadingto the carbons.

2. In a device 0t the class described, a hollow head, a carbonlongitudinally adjustable therein, a handle having manually operatedmeans for completing an electric circuit through said carbon and head,and means on said handle for moving said carbon and simultaneouslytherewith automatically making or breaking said circuit by actuatingsaid first named means.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow head, a carbonlongitudinally adjustable therein, a handle having a switch associatedtherewith, means for adjusting said carbon, said switch beingautomatically operated upon movement of said carbon.

4. lln a device of the class described, a hollow head having astationary pole and a slidable pole therein, a handle, means associatedwith said handle for adjusting said slidable pole, a switch, said switchand said means being so connected that movement of one operates theother.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow head having a stationarypole and a "ill lOll

and a switch automatically operated as said stem is moved.

6. In a device of the class described, a hollow head having a fixed poleand a slidablepole, a shank, a handle on said shank,

a stem slidably mounted in said handle and fixed to said slidable pole,a slot in said handle, a post in said stem extending through said slot,a groove in the handle overlying said slot, a sliding switch in saidgroove adapted when slid to make or break an electric circuit throughsaid head, means to insulate said switch from said post, longitudinalmovement of said post simultaneously sliding said slidable pole andcontrolling said switch.

7. In a device of the class described, a hollow head having a fixed poleand a slidable pole therein, a shank, ahandle on said shank, a stemfixed to said slidable poleand slidable in said handle, a post on saidstem and extending through a slot in said handle, and a switchassociated with said handle for automatic operation as said post ismoved in said slot to slide said slidable pole in said hea 8. In adevice of the class described, a hollow head having a fixed pole and aslidable ole therein, a handle, a stem slidable in sa1d handle andcarrying at one end said slidable pole, means for securing said slidablepole to said stem, said means being adjustable to permit said lastmentioned pole -to be extended with relation to said stem as the polebecomes shortened by use.

9. In' a device of the class described, a hollow head having a fixedpole, a handle, a stem slidably mounted at one end in said handle andcarrying at its other end a second pole extending into the hollow ofsaid head but insulated from the sides thereof and adapted to cooperatewith said fixed pole to produce an electric arc in said head, means foradjustably securing said second pole to said stem, a switch forcontrolling an electric circuit through said head and poles, means forsliding said stem in said handle, the operation of said last mentionedmeans. automatically operating said switch so that when said poles arebrought together, the switch will be closed, and when moved apart, theswitch will be opened.

10. Ina device of the class described, a hollow head, poles in said headfor the production of an are when traversed by an electric current, andan opening through the wall of said head opposite the region offormation of said are to permit the passage of air to and from the arc.

11. In a device of the class described, a hollow head having a fixed oletherein, a handle, a stem slidably assoclated with said handle andcarrying a second pole, and means connected with said stem adapted to beengaged by the finger or thumb of the user to slide said stem and secondpole.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specificationin the presence of two witnesses.

' NELS A. NELSON.

Witnesses:

O. C. SORLIEN,

' ALFRED O. CLANE.

